Trump Reportedly Used Backchannel to Relay De-escalation Message to Hezbollah

President Trump communicated with Hezbollah through backchannel mediators to push a snap de-escalation in Lebanon. S. has not talked directly to Hezbollah for 40 years. S. labels Hezbollah a terrorist organization.

Using intermediaries allowed Trump to bypass usual red lines. Israeli troops heading toward Beirut turned back. Hezbollah agreed to freeze rocket fire. @MarioNawfal reported the account citing Al Jazeera.

U.S. has not held direct talks with the group it designates a terrorist organization for four decades. Intermediaries enabled the contact without violating standing prohibitions.

The reported outcome followed the indirect exchanges. Israeli forces that had been moving toward Beirut reversed direction. Hezbollah halted rocket fire under the terms conveyed through the mediators.